Hawaii County Police have released a request for assistance from the community:

Hawaiʻi Island Police detectives are investigating a stabbing incident that occurred near downtown Hilo on Friday evening, Oct. 9, shortly before 7:30 p.m.

South Hilo Patrol officers were assigned to the parking lot of a drug store on the corner of Kilauea Avenue and Pauahi Street for a report of a male that had been stabbed. The 26-year-old male victim was bleeding from the chest area and appeared to have injuries consistent with stab wounds. He was transported via ambulance to the Hilo Medical Center Emergency Room for treatment. The victim remains hospitalized in stable condition.

During the course of this investigation police determined this incident occurred somewhere in the area of the Hawaiʻi County buildings, which take up the area at 25 Aupuni Street and at Aupuni Center at the opposite intersection of Kilauea Ave. and Pauahi Street.

Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed this incident to contact Detective William Brown at (808) 961-2379 or email at William.Brown@hawaiicounty.gov or call the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.